Speakers

Mrs. Carine El Khazen is a Clinical Psychologist in Dubai with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health. When she arrived in Dubai in 2004, she was one of the very few licensed clinical psychologists in the UAE. Since then, she has played a pioneering role in shaping both the mental health landscape and specialized eating disorder care in the region. Her contributions include expanding access to evidence-based treatments, mentoring a new generation of clinicians, and advocating for structured, multidisciplinary approaches to care.

Carine holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical and Psychopathological Psychology from Saint Joseph University (Lebanon), a postgraduate degree (DESS) from the University of Paris V – Sorbonne, and a diploma in Profound Studies (DEA) in Clinical Psychopathology from the University of Paris VI – Jussieu. She trained in reputable psychiatric and general healthcare settings in the UK (The Maudsley Hospital), France (Sainte-Anne Hospital), and Lebanon (St. George University Hospital).

Her clinical expertise spans a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, sleep disorders, personality disorders, and interpersonal difficulties. She integrates multiple therapeutic modalities in her practice, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), psychodynamic therapy, and CBT for insomnia (CBT-I). Before joining the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology- Dubai branch, Carine worked for eight years at the General Medical Center in Dubai and served as a school psychologist in international schools and nurseries.

Since 2011, she has been part of ACPN, where she currently serves as the Clinical Lead for Psychology Services across the Dubai and Sharjah branches, leading a team of over 30 clinical psychologists. In addition to this role, Carine is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in the treatment of eating disorders in the Arab region. She founded and leads the region’s first multidisciplinary outpatient Eating and Weight Disorders Program, accredited as a CBT-E Center of Excellence. The program provides specialized care across all age groups for conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, ARFID, picky eating, and distress related to weight and body image. Committed to a non-stigmatizing, evidence-based approach, the team supports individuals in improving their physical and emotional well-being—regardless of body size—without promoting restrictive or appearance-focused practices. The program is fully multidisciplinary, bringing together clinical psychologists, dietitians, and medical doctors to ensure comprehensive and compassionate care.

A certified CBT-E therapist, trainer, and supervisor, Carine co-authored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Young People: A Parent’s Guide (Routledge, 2021) with Dr. Riccardo Dalle Grave. She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) and has contributed to the development of global AED standards, including the Core Curriculum and Minimum Standards of Care.

Committed to capacity-building, Carine has delivered professional trainings across the Middle East for clinical psychologists, dietitians, and medical doctors. Her most recent initiative is an online CBT-E training program tailored to the cultural needs of the region, offered in collaboration with Oxford University’s CREDO.

She has also organized five international eating disorder conferences in the UAE, in partnership with the AED, bringing together global experts like Prof. Daniel Le Grange, Janet Treasure, and Ulrike Schmidt.

Previously the Vice-President of the Middle East Eating Disorders Association (MEEDA), she is now in the process of establishing a new regional organization: the Arab Eating Disorders Association (AEDA), dedicated to raising awareness, promoting evidence-based care, and expanding access to treatment throughout the Arab world.